Historic: Kirtan Inside American City Council Meeting

The entire ‘Chandi di vaar’ is a graphic violent battlefield scene written with the primary intent of desensitizing the docile Sikh population to horrific scenes they would experience in forthcoming battles to defend their human rights.

This poem is a commentary found within ‘Chandi di vaar’ written by Guru Gobind Singh, which can be interpreted as a criticism of the notion that only a deity such as Shiva (Name For Akal Purakh) could help the downtrodden as they possessed superpowers beyond the reach of the common man or woman.

However, being an astute general and more importantly a man steeped in the philosophy of ancient India and a guru, he realized that spiritual power is essential for the life’s real battles. By equating the human body and the spiritual superpowers he invoked the humankind to seek protection by means of the self, equating every Sikh, to Akal Purakh the deity of strength.

Sikh Anthem Deh Shiva Bar Moh Eh Hey, Subh Karman te kabhu na taro

Translation: The first two lines are contentious; the direct translation is as follows:

The physical body (deh) is greater than any of mythological god Siva’s superpowers, therefore I should not fear (and have no need for miracles) when committing myself to good deeds.
That I shall not fear when I go into combat. And with determination I will be victorious.
That I may teach myself this creed alone, to speak only of Thy (allmighty lord Waheguru) praises.
And when the last days of my life come, I may die in the might of the battlefield.||231||

Resolution 2734
THE CITY OF HARVEY
COOK COUNTY, IL

A RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE THE NOVEMVER 1984 ANTI-SIKH VIOLENCE IN INDIA AS “GENOCIDE”

WHEREAS, The City of Harvey is in support of this resolution to recognize the intentional, deliberate, and systematic killing of Sikhs in India during November 1984 as “Genocide” as defined under the laws of the United States and UN Convention.